Affiong Williams wins Women Agripreneurs of the Year Award at AFS Forum

RWANDA – ReelFruit CEO, Affiong Williams, has been named the winner of the Women Agripreneurs of the Year Award (WAYA) at the 2024 Africa Food Systems Forum (AFS), celebrating her transformative contributions to Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

The award was presented during the AFS Forum, held in Kigali, Rwanda, from September 2-6, 2024.

The AFS Forum, formerly known as the AGRF Summit, is Africa’s premier gathering focused on transforming the continent’s food systems.

This year’s event brought together key stakeholders from governments, businesses, civil society, and the research community to discuss sustainable solutions for Africa’s food security and nutrition challenges.

At the forum, the VALUE4HER Women Agripreneurs of the Year Awards (WAYA) shone a spotlight on the achievements of several exceptional women in agribusiness.

Affiong Williams, Founder and CEO of ReelFruit, took home the Grand Prize, receiving a cash award of USD 40,000 for her transformative work in the dried fruit sector.

Williams, who founded ReelFruit in 2012, has grown the company into a major player in Nigeria’s dried fruit snack sector.

In her acceptance speech, Williams expressed hope to inspire the next generation of female agripreneurs. “I am hoping that I can be a role model and pioneer that can show the path that women can take to build big agribusinesses that put our countries and continent on the map,” she said.

Jovia Kisakaye, Founder and CEO of Ecobed Biotech Brand from Uganda, was honored as the Young Female Agri-preneur (Rising Star), receiving USD 25,000 for her leadership in training young farmers.

In the Women Empowerment Champion category, Fannie Gondwe, Founder and Executive Director of Perisha Agro in Malawi, was recognized for her efforts in promoting women’s empowerment in agriculture, earning her a prize of USD 25,000.

Daniella Virivuswagha, Founder of ChemChemAgro, was celebrated as a Resilient and Inspirational Leader, receiving USD 25,000 for her innovative use of technology to support beekeepers.

For her outstanding contribution to transforming the cassava value chain, Florence Bassono, Founder of Faso Attieke from Burkina Faso, received USD 25,000 as the winner in the Outstanding Value-Adding Enterprise category.

Finally, Aisha Raheem, Founder of Farmz2u in Nigeria, was awarded USD 25,000 as the Female Ag Tech Innovator for her pioneering work in technological advancements within agribusiness.

The awards also honored Wanjiru Mambo, Founder & Director of Wedgehut Foods in Kenya, as the first runner-up in the Value Addition category.

Williams’ victory and the overall participation of women in the agribusiness sector showcase the growing role of female entrepreneurs in shaping Africa’s agricultural future.

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